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Terry McAuliffe eyes Virginia gubernatorial run

By Gary Emerling (Contact) | Thursday, September 11, 2008

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Terry McAuliffe, former Democratic Party chairman and head of New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign, is weighing a run for Virginia governor next year.

Mr. McAuliffe, 51, a frequent TV commentator and Democratic spokesman, fanned rumors at the party's nominating convention in Denver when he talked to Virginia delegates, then declined to rule out a run when speaking with reporters.

A top McAuliffe aide, Tracy Sefl, said Wednesday that Mr. McAuliffe has been "inundated" by well-wishers in the state urging him to run.

"He's really flattered, and his position is the same, that he's not ruling out anything," she said.

A close friend and political associate of Mr. McAuliffe, a longtime ally of the Clinton family, also said Mr. McAuliffe has been encouraged to run by Democrats "around the country."

Gov. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, has said Mr. McAuliffe would be a good candidate - among others - if he chose to run. Chris Matthews, host of the MSNBC TV show, this week asked Mr. Kaine whether he had encouraged Mr. McAuliffe.

"I'm very intrigued," Mr. Kaine answered. "I didn't realize that Terry was interested until I heard him speak out in Denver and he indicated he was. We've got two legislators in Virginia who have lined up to potentially run, and Terry now is coming in and saying he's thinking about it. They're all great."

A Facebook page titled "Draft Terry McAuliffe for VA Governor" also has more than 230 members.

Mr. McAuliffe has committed his time this year to erasing Mrs. Clinton's multi-million-dollar campaign debt and raising money for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's run for the White House.

Ms. Sefl said Mr. McAuliffe is "wholly focused" on helping elect Mr. Obama and Senate candidate Mark Warner. She said she did not know whether an announcement on Mr. McAuliffe's candidacy would come after the November elections.